Cilantro Lime Rice

$1.99 recipe / $0.33 serving

I made this Cilantro Lime Rice as a side dish for the Shrimp Tacos that I made last weekend (my apologies for taking so long to post it). This rice is very simple and makes a great, filling side dish to any Mexican or Tex-mex meal. It’s so delicious that I’m tempted to just put some in a bowl, melt some cheddar cheese over top and have at it… oooh, and maybe add a few black beans in there. Okay, now it’s turning into a whole other recipe! As you can see, it can also be a versatile base to many other dishes. Try it in casseroles or as a super flavorful filling for burritos! Plus, it’s just pretty and green.

(Updated 7/17/15)

Cilantro Lime Rice

4.91 from 10 votes

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Cilantro Lime Rice

Cilantro lime rice is a bright and flavorful alternative to plain white rice and works great as a side or stuffed into burritos.

Total Cost
$1.99 recipe / $0.33 serving

Prep Time10minutes

Cook Time30minutes

Total Time40minutes

Servings6(about 1 cup each)

Ingredients

2cupsuncooked long grain rice $0.60

3cupschicken broth $0.40

1/2bunch fresh cilantro $0.50

1medium lime $0.33

1Tbspolive oil $0.16

Instructions

Add 3 cups of chicken broth to a medium sauce pot (if using Better Than Bouillon or another soup base, fully dissolve the base in the water before adding the rice). Add the rice to the pot, place a lid on top, and bring the pot to a full boil over high heat. As soon as the pot reaches a full boil, turn the heat down to low and let the pot simmer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and let the pot rest for 10 minutes, with the lid in place, undisturbed.

While the rice is cooking, prepare the cilantro lime mix. Rinse the cilantro well. Pull the leaves from the stems and roughly chop the leaves with a knife. Use a fine hole cheese grater or zester to remove the thin green layer of zest from the lime. Add the chopped cilantro, lime zest, juice from the lime, and 1 Tbsp olive oil to a bowl. Stir to combine.

When the rice is finished cooking, fluff the rice. Add the cilantro lime mixture and fold to combine. Avoid vigorous stirring as this can make the rice gummy. Gently fold the flavor in.

Step By Step Photos

Add three cups of chicken broth to a medium sauce pot. I use Better Than Bouillon brand soup base, which should be fully dissolved water before beginning this recipe. Add 2 cups of rice to the broth, place the lid on the pot, and bring it to a full boil over high heat. Once it reaches a full boil, turn the heat down to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, turn the heat off and let it sit undisturbed for about 10 minutes.

While the rice is cooking, rinse the cilantro well. Pull the leaves from the stems, then give them a rough chop. Use a small holed cheese grater or zester to remove the thin green layer of zest from the lime. Add the chopped cilantro, lime zest, and juice from the lime to a small bowl, along with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Stir to combine.

When the rice is finished cooking, fluff it with a fork. Add the cilantro lime mixture and fold it into the rice. Taste and adjust the salt if needed (my chicken broth contained enough salt, so I added none).

I’ve made this recipe quite a few times and loved it! Question, though: I’m cooking for a vegetarian this weekend and wanted to make this with your hearty black bean quesadillas. Would it be better to replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth or water?

This is so delicious! I make it all the time. I have evolved the recipe a bit by adding black beans (as you suggested!) and a generous amount of Sambal Oelek. I just eat it by itself by the bowlful! Your website is just the greatest. Thanks so much for all the AMAZING food.

Well, this is basically just cilantro flavored rice, so this probably just isn’t your recipe. :D You can always just cook rice in chicken broth for added flavor and then squeeze some lime on top for a kick.

There’s a chicken dish I make that has a garlic lime sauce and is served with rice. You could use a little bit of garlic and lime instead. Very different taste but I’m sure it would be good. (the dish i make is found on allrecipes: spicy garlic lime chicken. So good!

I made the Cilantro Lime Rice for dinner to go with the Saucy Southwest Shredded Beef bowls. I cooked the rice in the slow cooker, and honestly, it was delicious!! Thank you for the simple recipe, Beth, and your blog ROCKS!!! :-)

I almost feel like you can add anything to quinoa to make it more flavorful and it will be good. I don’t think it will be quite the same as rice because quinoa has a rather distinct flavor, but it will be better than plain quinoa. :)

Hi! I’m Beth

As a food lover and a number cruncher I've decided that cooking on a budget shouldn't mean canned beans and ramen noodles night after night. Join me for delicious recipes designed for small budgets. More »